Latin America

• Thursday, June 20th 2013 - 01:56 UTC

  Unasur top-marks for Paraguay presidential election; recommends lifting suspension

  

  The Union of South American Nations, Unasur expects Paraguayan president-elect Horacio Cartes to attend the next summit of the block in August in Suriname, said Salomon Lerner head of the Unasur electoral observers’ mission, who previously delivered a very positive report on last April’s presidential election.

• Wednesday, June 19th 2013 - 06:12 UTC

  Blow for CFK: Supreme Court rules unconstitutional Counsel of Magistrates reform

  

  Argentina’s Supreme Court has ruled that the controversial Counsel of Magistrates reform, drafted by the Cristina Fernández (CFK) administration, is unconstitutional and suspended the election of the twelve members up for the popular vote in the next election. The result was six votes in favour and one against.

• Wednesday, June 19th 2013 - 06:07 UTC

  Rousseff admits protestors grievances, praises democracy and meets Lula da Silva

  

  As the threat of massive protests in Brazil’s major cities continues, President Dilma Rousseff early Tuesday tried to defuse the situation by acknowledging the need for better public services, more responsive governance and at the same time praising Brazilians commitment to a strong democracy.

• Wednesday, June 19th 2013 - 05:58 UTC

  Bolivia’s Morales third presidential bid triggers strong controversy, involving OAS

  

  Organization of American States, OAS, Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza apologized to Bolivian president Evo Morales for the disclosure of a letter in which the indigenous leader back in 2008 when the discussion of a new constitution pledged he would not run for a third consecutive mandate.

• Tuesday, June 18th 2013 - 07:20 UTC

  Thousands camp in the Peruvian Andes to protect a lake from major gold mining project

  

  Thousands of opponents of a 5 billion dollars gold project of Newmont Mining circled a lake high in the Andes, in Cajamarca province vowing to stop the company from eventually draining it to make way for Peru's most expensive mine.

• Tuesday, June 18th 2013 - 02:25 UTC

  To silence rationing rumours, Venezuela announces 760.000 tons of imported food is on the way

  

  Venezuela is awaiting the arrival of 760.000 tons of food from different associated countries and which are destined to build a national reserve of food, according to Food Minister Felix Osorio. The announcement follows strong suggestions that rationing of certain food and toiletry items was in the pipeline.

• Monday, June 17th 2013 - 21:30 UTC

  Latinamerica and Mercosur, priorities of Brazil foreign policy ratifies Rousseff

  

  President Dilma Rousseff ratified Latinamerica and Mercosur as Brazil’s foreign policy priorities, but at the same time emphasizing the ‘excellent relations’ with the United States and the European Union.

• Monday, June 17th 2013 - 19:25 UTC

  Assange prepared to remain in Ecuadorean embassy in London another five years

  

  Ecuador will continue to grant WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange asylum at its London embassy, the foreign minister said on Monday after failing to reach a solution to the case with Britain.

• Monday, June 17th 2013 - 16:07 UTC

  Paraguay president-elect will not be attending Mercosur summit in Montevideo

  

  Paraguay president-elect Horacio Cartes ratified he will not be attending the coming Mercosur summit scheduled to take place July 12 in Montevideo, confirmed one of his foreign policy advisors since the Paraguayan position remains that “Venezuela is not a full member of Mercosur because the Paraguayan congress by overwhelming majority rejected such option in August 2012”.

• Monday, June 17th 2013 - 15:51 UTC

  Expert in international cooperation next US ambassador in Brazil

  

  President Barack Obama has named Lilian Ayalde a career diplomat with a long experience in international cooperation and former ambassador to Paraguay as the next ambassador to Brazil it was announced by the White House.